Logistics and supply chain professionals headed to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in their thousands in September for three days of state-of-the-art intralogistics solutions, face-to-face networking opportunities and free conference seminars at the UK’s largest and most comprehensive materials handling event – the International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX).
IMHX 2022 attracted senior executives from some of the leading names in the retail and manufacturing industries, including ALDI, Amazon, ASDA, British Steel, DHL, Halfords, Lidl, NHS Supply Chain, Ocado, Samsung, Tesco, Unipart and Wilko.
Having exhibited at every IMHX in its history, this time Pyroban was there to discuss Ex Solutions for AGVs, AMRs, robots, and a wide range of other materials handling and plant equipment.
As Darren Boiling, Materials Handling Sales Manager at Pyroban explains, Pyroban addressed the myth that ATEX (with UKCA marking) AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots), and robots don’t exist.
The UK Sales Manager Matt Booth was also on the stand talking about the latest updates on power options including the facts about Stage V ATEX forklifts (with UKCA marking) and the first ever solutions for LPG forklifts working in Zone 2 hazardous areas.
Pyroban’s Managing Director Steve Noakes also clarified the facts about the ATEX certification requirements for lead acid batteries and talked about the ignition risks when using lithium-ion batteries in hazardous areas.
While IMHX attracted OEMs from all over the world, IMHX end users were mostly from across the UK. Matt Booth and the team talked to visitors about how Pyroban provides lifetime support and care programmes to reinforce the customer experience in the UK and across the world, alongside pro-active advice and consultancy from the very early stages of a project.
Some visitors will also have seen demonstrations of the Pyroban system6000 gas detection system which features on the majority of Pyroban conversions for ATEX Zone 2 hazardous areas.
We believe that there is still significant market education to do about the risks of using MHE equipment in potentially explosive atmospheres for end users, OEMs and dealers. This includes the systems, technologies and legislation surrounding ATEX.
One display on the Pyroban stand featured many household products which attracted a lot of attention. The intention was to show how many industries need to manage their risk of explosion either in their manufacturing processes, raw materials storage or finished goods distribution operations.
Explosion protection is needed through many stages of the supply chain when manufacturing products such as fizzy drinks, food, sweets, aerosols, cosmetics, cleaning products and even hand sanitiser.
And finally….. 2022 marked 50 years of one clear Purpose for Pyroban – keeping people safe in hazardous areas.
Thanks to all that visited us. The next IMHX will be held at the NEC, Birmingham in September 2025.
